THE girlfriend of a Scots pirate hunter stuck in an Indian prison says she can’t wait to “give him a big hug” when she sees him today for the first time in seven months.

Emotional Yvonne MacHugh has finally been given permission to visit Billy Irving in Puzhal prison, Chennai, after he was locked up with the crew of a security ship in October.

She started the 5000-mile journey from Glasgow yesterday, saying: “I can’t wait to give him a cuddle.”

Billy, of Connell, near Oban, had already been away for several months protecting vessels from pirate gangs in the Indian Ocean when his employers were accused of having illegal weapons on board, wrongfully obtaining fuel and straying into Indian waters.

Over the last three months, the family have had a few short letters from the 33-year-old, who has been living in a cramped and dirty cell, been in hospital and endured the heartache of seeing a successful bail plea revoked at the eleventh hour.

Yvonne, 25, will first fly to Dubai, where she will meet Billy’s dad Jim then fly on to Chennai, where the Foreign Office have arranged for them to see ex-para Billy.

She said: “I’m feeling every emotion to finally be going. I’m absolutely petrified but excited. I just can’t wait to see him and just give him a big hug.”

Billy with Yvonne MacHugh, who is campaigning for his release from Indian jail (Image: Daily Record)

Billy is one of five Britons and 35 crew taken from the US-owned MV Seaman Guard Ohio.

His employers AdvanFort say the men are innocent and have blasted the Indian authorities for locking them up for months before charges were lodged two weeks ago.

Billy has been taken to hospital twice with a painful intestinal infection and has told his family that his weight has plummeted.

Yvonne and Jim hope to get to visit him four times before leaving next Saturday and will try to give him some much-needed supplies.

She said: “It’s going to be amazing to see him again. It has been a long time coming.”

A petition calling for the UK Government to help free the men has gathered 85,000 signatures.